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Research Articles

The role of PI3K/AKT-related proteins in di(2-ethyl)hexylphthalate-induced BG-1 and MCF-7 cell proliferation, and inhibition by metformin

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Pages 378-385 | Received 01 Jun 2022, Accepted 19 Nov 2022, Published online: 02 Dec 2022
 

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the molecular mechanism of the proliferation and migration of BG-1 and MCF-7cells induced by DEHP, and the antagonistic effect of metformin.

Methods

The proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion abilities of BG-1 and MCF-7 cancer cells were examined via Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, Transwell, and scratch assays. E2F1, SKP2, cyclin D1, vimentin, E-cadherin, and GSK-3β, all of which play key roles in cancer development via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, were examined by immunofluorescence and immunocytochemistry.

Results

Cell proliferation was significantly increased, and the wound closure and number of trans-membrane migrating cells were significantly increased, by DHEP treatment. The numbers of BG-1 and MCF-7 cells in the G0/G1 phase were significantly decreased, while those in the S phase were significantly increased. Increased E2F1, SKP2, cyclin D1, and vimentin levels and decreased E-cadherin and GSK-3β levels were detected in BG-1 and MCF-7 cells treated with DEHP compared to that in control cells. Furthermore, DEHP-induced effects were markedly inhibited by LY294002 (a PI3K/AKT inhibitor) or metformin.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that DEHP-induced cell proliferation and migration involves the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and that metformin can be used to inhibit this proliferation and migration.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China [LH2021H010].

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